BLOOD STAINED TEETH #6: A Mother’s Motivation…

This review is made up of our previous spoiler-free review and new additional notes:

This issue differentiates itself from the first arc as it shifts focus entirely away from our misanthropic bastard Atticus Sloane and his quest to save his own vampiric butt by snuffing out the “sips” he’s made and instead focuses on Dr. Beverly Phelps. Ward smartly fills in the gaps in the character’s history and delves deeper into her motivations and how she came to be a vampire, filling out her timeline as we follow her on her path to where the current arc ended. It’s a well-placed bridging issue that answers questions unanswered at the conclusion of the first arc. Dr. Phelps and her alluded to connection to Atticus is made linear and direct as Ward shows us how Phelps goes from concerned mom of a terminally sick child to vampire sip on a mission to save her child if she has to kill every firstborn she can get her hands on. The addition of the medical aspect and the healing properties of vampire blood is another shade that Ward adds to the mix.

The issue isn’t all talk though. There is creepy hospital horror (brought to life marvelously by the art) and the requisite vampire-on-vampire violence that’s characterized every issue so far. On that note, and this is something I haven’t brought up about the series, the fact that the corporate bloodsuckers are in fact ACTUAL bloodsuckers is a smart, caustically funny commentary on corporate greed that is worth noting about this entire series, not just this issue.

While this issue could be a good jumping on point for some I am inclined to say that reading it in conjunction with Vol.1 is a far better idea than reading it alone and moving into the next arc as it’s still heavily tied to what’s gone before, still if you do read it as your first issue, it’s absolutely intriguing enough to make you go in search of the previous volume. Six issues in Ward’s modern vampire world is still as compelling as ever, with new vampires popping up every issue and feature characters like Dr. Phelps and others having their story expanded in meaningful ways. While Phelps is very much the focal point of this issue, Ward takes the opportunity to take a closer look at the now dead Joey’s connection to this bloody drama and how he ties Phelps to Sloane as well as how he is tied into Phelps’ personal mission.

Artist Mack Chatter steps in for series regular and co-creator Patric Reynolds and he’s an excellent choice. Matt’s style maintains the gritty, modern noir feel that’s a hallmark of the series. The opening pages of the issue are a masterclass in how to start a hospital horror noir story using strong eerie paneling before using more overt horror imagery. Heather Moore’s marvelous psychedelic neon palette ties this issue to the rest of the series for an almost flawless art continuity while letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continues to show off how lettering is an actual art not just throwing words down next to pictures.